Dakota County keeps levy low, again.

Board of Commissioners sets max increase for 2011

 

In today's board meeting the Dakota County Board of Commissioners set a limit of a maximum 0.8 percent increase for its 2011 property tax levy. Now that the limit is set, the Board cannot increase the property tax levy by more than 0.8 percent. However, the Board will still have the option to not increase the levy at all, keeping it at a zero percent increase, when it adopts its 2011 budget later this year.

 

Eliminating jobs, reducing spending on capital equipment, and delaying building projects are among the strategies the County will be using to bridge an expected $10 million budget gap created mostly by cuts in state funding.  Due to changes in the tax base, a 0.8 percent increase in the levy in 2011 would actually result in slightly lower county taxes for median priced residential properties.

 

Dakota County is required to set the proposed property tax levy by Sept. 15 each year. The Board is scheduled to adopt the final budget by Dec. 14, which is now limited to the 0.8 percent levy increase cap passed today. The Board has a reputation for keeping property taxes low; in recent years Dakota County has maintained the lowest county property tax rate in the state.  In fact, the Dakota County share of the total property tax bill has declined over time.

 

The Dakota County Administrator will present a recommended budget to the County Board on Nov. 2. County budget workshops are scheduled for Nov. 2–5, with the Truth in Taxation hearing scheduled for 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 at the Dakota County Board Room, Administration Center, 1590 Highway 55, Hastings.